By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
As soon as they entered the Sunsations women’s clothing boutique, friends Cheryl Chestnut and Lynn Mertz were greeted by smiles and hugs from shop owner Liz Essick.
“I don’t have any cocktails. I wish I did,” Essick told her two customers, who are also her friends.
But on Sunday, Essick had something better to offer – a 50 percent off sale to lure last-minute Christmas shoppers such as Chestnut and Mertz.
Throughout Sea Isle City’s downtown shopping district, the hunt was on for that must-have designer outfit, a special bottle of wine or a box of scrumptious chocolates to give to a loved one or friend for Christmas.
Sea Isle is decked out for the holidays, creating a festive atmosphere for shoppers. The Victorian-style lamp posts lining the John F. Kennedy Boulevard entryway into town are draped with garland and wreaths trimmed with red bows. Christmas lights and snowflakes twinkle along Landis Avenue downtown.
Chestnut and Mertz, who both live in Sea Isle, said they had finished most of their holiday gift shopping for everyone else, but stopped in at Sunsations at 28 JFK Boulevard to buy a few things for themselves.
“My husband said he won’t be looking at the bank account until after Christmas, so in my mind – ‘Bingo!”’ Mertz joked.
When asked whether they were shopping for clothes, shoes or accessories, Chestnut, without missing a beat, blurted out in laughter, “All of the above.”
Sea Isle’s retail businesses, which are largely seasonal, are winding down for the winter after the holidays. Essick is planning a blowout sale of $35 or less for everything in the store on Saturday, Dec. 28, her last day before closing Sunsations for the season.
Diamonds Liquor Store, open year-round, is gearing up for Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Joey Neiman, a clerk at Diamonds, said wine, vodka and craft beers have been strong sellers over the holidays.
Craft beers, such as Mad Elf, Dogfish Head and selections from Cape May Brewing Co., have been particularly popular this time of year, Neiman said.
Diamonds Liquor Store, located at 4009 Landis Avenue, got an added bonus Sunday with the Eagles’ big win over the Cowboys. Neiman noted that customers came in before the game to pick up some beer and vodka.
As for New Year’s Eve, it’s a no-brainer for what many people will be drinking to celebrate the arrival of 2020.
“Some people will come in and get wine and champagne,” Neiman said.
Along with some bubbly for the holidays, sweet treats are also a big hit. At the Sisters Sweet Shoppe at 4109 Landis Avenue, customers have been buying fudge, cookie trays, gingerbread men made of Rice Krispies and, of course, chocolates, any kind of chocolates.
“Everybody waits until the last minute to buy chocolate or baked goods. They probably think they will go bad or they will eat them,” said Sandra Martin, who owns the candy store with her sister, Debra Sauter.
Kerri Comly, of Sea Isle, stopped in at Sisters Sweet Shop on Sunday to buy some dark chocolate raspberry jellies for her grandfather, Ed Weiss. Comly was accompanied by her cousins, Hollie Weiss and Mallory Weiss, who were visiting Sea Isle from their home in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.
Comly said she was nearly finished with her Christmas shopping, but still had to buy two ornaments.
“I just have to wrap everything,” Comly said.
Martin, meanwhile, said she has noticed that a lot of the last-minute holiday customers at the candy store are men. She took a guess as to why. It has to do with them staying in good graces with their wives or girlfriends.
“Either they’re in the doghouse, or they want to stay out of it,” Martin said with a laugh.
